Soldering iron



Oct. 3, 1939. s. ALBERT SOLDERIVNG IRON Filed JanA 13, 1938 rNvFN-ronALBERT.

l DHB Y M ATTORNEY$- Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in soldering irons and hasparticular reference to a fountain soldering iron wherein the solder isadmitted to the iron in the form of small balls 6 that under theinfluence of heat then melt and flow through a channel to the point ofthe iron. A further object is to produce an iron wherein the operatormay use both hands, one to handle the soldering iron, and the other tohandle the 10 work, which will greatly facilitate the solderingoperations, as now it is necessary to stop the soldering operation, movethe Work to a new position, and then hold the solder in one hand and theiron in the other hand. Other objects and advantages will be apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of my iron, having a portion thereof brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates ahandle; the numeral 6, the head of the iron, which is connected by a rod'I with the handle 5. A tube 8 is carried upon the top of the rod 'I andextends into the head 6 and also into the handle 5. In the handle 5 astorage space S is provided, which is closed by a plug Il, and a gateI2, extending into the tube 8, is operated by a linger piece I3,normally held closed by a spring I 4. In the head 6 I have formed a slotI6 which has a depression I1 in its bottom and communicates with atapered slot I8, leading to the point A of the iron.

The result of this construction is that when the storage space 9 isfilled with solder balls, as shown at B, the same may be fed through thetube 8 by raisin-g the gate I2 through the action of the finger pieceI3. These balls will roll down the tube 8 and into the depression II ofthe slot IS where the same will melt due to the heat of the head 5, andwill then iiow down through the slot I8 to the point of the iron and tothe Work to be soldered.

It is obvious that if the soldering iron is to be operated electrically,the referred to soldering balls will readily melt due to the heat of theheating element placed between the head 6 and the tube 8.

It will be apparent that by regulating the number of balls which go downthe tube, the amount of solder may be readily controlled.

I wish to further point out that the rod 1 could be readily convertedinto a hollow metal tube, wherein electric Wires can be carried and theheating element housed so that the iron can be electrically operated.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatVarious changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a soldering iron, a handle, a storage space formed in said handle, atube communicating with said storage space, a spring actuated gate valvepositioned in said tube and adapted to control the discharge of materialfrom said storage space through said tube, a head connected to saidtube, an elongated open slot formed in said head and capable ofreceiving material from said tube, a depression formed in said slot, andan open tapered slot formed in said head and communicating with saidrst-mentioned slot and terminating at the point of said head, wherebysolder may be delivered from said depression to the point of the iron.

SIDNEY SAMUEL ALBERT.

